Watson, Robert N.

Ben Jonson (1572-1637) was an English dramatist and poet, whose reputation amongst playwrights of the period is only second only to Shakespeare's. Although Jonson found little success as an actor, his reputation as a dramatist was firmly established in 1598 with "Every Man in his Humour". This sucess was followed by "Every Man out of his Humour" and the classically influenced satire "Cynthia's Revels." Jonson wrote all of the major comedies upon which his reputation is now based during the period 1605 to 1614.